Reel construction

ABSTRACT

A reel for wire and analogous articles has a hub and a pair of flange members which project radially from the hub in the region of the opposite ends of the latter. Each flange member is of laminar construction and includes at least one first layer of metallic reinforcing material provided with a plurality of apertures, and at least one second layer of synthetic plastic material in surface-to-surface contact with one side of the first layer and having synthetic plastic portions which extend through the apertures to the other side of the first layer and embed marginal portions of the latter which surround the respective apertures.

United States Patent mi 3,591,103

[72] Inventor Erich Hainer 2,837,297 6/1958 Moss 242/118.62 Daktor Kamp l1, Leopoldshoehe, Germany 3,403,871 10/1968 Rebillet. 242/1187 1 m p N0 3 22 I FOREIGN PATENTS [2 1 i e une Patented y 957,253 5/1964 Great Britain 242/1 18.7

(32] Priority June 15, 1968 Primary Examiner-George F. Mautz [33] Germany AttorneyMichael S. Striker [54] REEL CONSTRUCTION 15 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

118.6,118.4,118.5,1l8.61,1l8.62,118.32, 118.31, l18.3,1l8.1,118.2,l18,77.3,77.4,71.8

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,527,520 10/1950 Bliss ABSTRACT: A reel for wire and analogous articles has a hub and a pair of flange members which project radially from the hub in the region of the opposite ends of the latter. Each flange member is of laminar construction and includes at least one first layer of metallic reinforcing material provided with a plurality of apertures, and at least one second layer of synthetic plastic material in surface-to-surface contact with one side of the first layer and having synthetic plastic portions which extend through the apertures to the other side of the first layer and embed marginal portions of the latter which surround the respective apertures.

REEL CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a reel construction, and more particularly to a reel for wire and analogous articles.

It is well known that reels are used in the wire and cable industry for a plurality of purposes. For instance, in the making of wire reels are needed in the different processing steps for winding and unwinding the wire. Such reels are intendedto be used for a period of years and are subjected to significant mechanical stresses. The reason for this is that the reel flanges must be capable of withstanding significant pressure from the wire which is wound onto the reel. In addition to this there is the fact that frequently the wire is at relatively high temperature, for instance on the order of 50 C., and of course the reel must be capable of withstanding this.

Reels known in the art and capable of meeting these requirements are rather expensive to manufacture. Less expensive reels, on the other hand, have not heretofore been found fully satisfactory because they are not really capable of meeting the aforementioned requirements.

SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a reel construction which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved reel whose flanges are capable of withstanding high mechanical and thermal stresses.

An additional object of the invention is to provide such a reel construction which is rather inexpensive to manufacture.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a reel construction of the type in question which is of relatively low weight.

In pursuance of the above objects, and others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of my invention resides in the provision of a reel construction for wire and analogous articles. My novel reel comprises, briefly stated, a hub and a pair of flange members which project radially from the hub in the region of the opposite ends of the latter. According to my invention the flange members are of laminar construction and each include at least one first layer of metallic reinforcing material which is provided with a plurality of apertures, and at least one second layer of synthetic plastic material which is in surface-to-surface contact with one side of the first layer and which comprises synthetic plastic portions of the second layer extending through the apertures to the other side of the first layer and embedding marginal portions of the first layer which surround the respective apertures.

In this manner there is provided an intimate and highly reliable connection between the first and second layers of each flange member. On the other hand I contemplate, according to a further embodiment of the invention, the provision of an auxiliary flange member to be associated with each of the aforementioned flange members at the aforementioned other side of the first layer thereof. This can be readily accomplished, according to the invention, by bonding such auxiliary flange member to the portions of the second layer which extend through the apertures in the first layer to the other side thereof.

In accordance with the invention it is also advantageous that the metallic reinforcing layer extend to the hub of the reel to reinforce the juncture of the flange member with the hub. Advantageously the reinforcing layer will be in form of a circumferentially complete annular member which may be profiled in circumferential direction.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic partly broken-away end view of a reel constructed according to the present invention, the right-hand side showing the outer side of the flange member closer to the viewing plane and the left-hand side showing the inner side of the flange member farther from the viewing plane, that is provided at the opposite end of the hub from the flange member at the right-hand side;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on the line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on the line III-III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on the line IV-IV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a section taken on the line V-V of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a section taken on the line Vl-VI of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but illustrating a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a section taken on the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but illustrating yet an additional embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing firstly the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 it will be seen that reference numeral 1 identifies one of two flange members which are provided at opposite axial ends of a hub 6 and which will usually be of identical construction. As shown in FIG. 3 the reel according to the present invention may be additionally provided with a body of suitable material, such as synthetic plastic material, having a hub portion surrounding the actual hub of the reel and onto which the wire is to be wound, and a flange portion located axially inwardly adjacent the respective flange member 1. This member 2 is shown in broken lines in FIG. 3, as well as in FIGS. 4 and 6, so as to avoid confusion. The flange portions of the member 2 are identified with reference numeral 3 and it is pointed out that they are provided with a circumferential edge portion 4 overlying a corresponding edge portion 5 of each of the flange members 1 and to which they are in suitable manner connected, for instance preferably by means of an adhesive agent.

As shown in FIGS. l6, each of the flange members 1 according to the present invention is provided with a reinforcing layer or insert 7 which is illustratedand preferred to be-as a circumferentially complete annular member. According to the invention and in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6, the annular member 7 is profiled, that it is provided with a plurality of projecting and depressed portions, as clearly evident from FIG. I as well as from the various sections in FIGS. 2--6. It is further provided with a plurality of apertures 8 and 9 which may be of different cross-sectional configuration, for instance circular, and which in the illustrated embodiment are so arranged that the apertures 8 are provided in a radial pattern in the respective recesses whereas the apertures 9 are provided similarly in a radial pattern but located in the respective raised portions, as clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 for example. The outer side of each of the reinforcing members 7, that is the side facing in axial direction of the reel away from the respectively other flange member 1, is provided with a layer 10 of suitable synthetic plastic material which overlies the outer side of the member 7 in surface-to-surface contact therewith. Accordingly, the layer 10 is of course profiled in the same manner as the member 7. Quantities of the synthetic plastic material of the layer 10 extend through the respective apertures 8 and 9 to the inner side of the member 7, that is the side facing towards the respectively opposite flange member 1, and form plugs 10a which fill the apertures 8 and 9 and embed marginal portions of the member 7 which surround the apertures 8 and 9. This assures an intimate and reliable connection between the layer 10 and the member 7 in each case.

If, as in accordance with the invention I prefer, the member 2 with its auxiliary flange members or portions 3 is provided, then it can be secured to the respective flange members 1 by being bonded via a suitable adhesive to the plugs 10a which thus perform a dual function. This is clearly shown in FIGS. 4

and 6 of the drawing.

It will be appreciated that where the member 2 is provided, the metallic reinforcing member 7 will not come in contact with heated wires on the reel so that no excessive stresses will develop as a result of elevated temperatures within the respective flange members 1 and because of the differential coefficients of expansion of the synthetic plastic material and the metal of the reinforcing member. On the other hand, the profiling of the layer 10 and the reinforcing member 7 so reinforces the respective flange members 1 that they are capable of withstanding high mechanical stresses.

It has already been mentioned that the portions 4 and of the auxiliary flange portion 3 and the flange members 1 are adhesively connected with one another, and that there is an adhesive connection between the plugs a and the auxiliary flange portion 3. In addition, the flange members 1 are provided with inwardly projecting annular portions 11 which are bonded to the synthetic plastic member 2. This provides for high mechanical resistance of the reel in the region of the hub thereof. A further increase in the mechanical resistance of the reel, particularly at the juncture of the flange members 1 with the hub, is obtained if the reinforcing member 7 respectively extends into the hub, as illustrated in the drawing, or at least to the hub region.

If desired it is also possible to provide tension members extending from one to the other of the flange members 1 and connecting the same. This is shown by way of example in FIG. 1 where it will be seen that they extend through the portions 12 (see also FIGS. 4 and 5 which are equidistantly distributed circumferentially of the respective flange member 1. Such tension members are well known and need not be described in detail.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 differs from that in FIGS. 16 in that the partially shown flange member is identified with reference numeral 13. It is, of course, representative of both flange members of the reel. In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, however, the flange member 13 is conically inclined with respect to the auxiliary flange portion 14 of the member 2. In other words, it tapers radially outwardly as well as in axial direction of the hub 6 towards the other flange member 13 which is not illustrated. The reinforcing member of metallic material is identified with reference numeral 15 and again provided with a plurality of apertures. The synthetic plastic layer is identified with reference numeral 16 and portions 16a thereof extend through the apertures in the member 15 and can form the plugs 16a as discussed with respect to the embodiments of FIGS. 1-6. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the latter being a section taken on the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7, the layer 16 further comprises radially extending ribs 17 which are located at the underside of the reinforcing member 15 and which each extend through the respectively radially aligned plugs 16a. The exposed edge face 18 of the ribs 17 serves for adhesive bonding of the auxiliary flange portions 14 of the member 2 thereto.

The embodiment in FIG. 9, finally, shows by way of exam plc a flange member 19 corresponding to the flange members 1 and 13 of the preceding embodiments, but provided with two axially spaced reinforcing members 20, 21 of metallic material. The reinforcing member 20 has associated therewith a layer 23 of synthetic plastic material and portions 23a of this layer 23 extend through the apertures in the reinforcing member 20 and form plugs analogous to those identified with reference numeral 10a in the embodiment of FIGS. 16. Similarly, a layer of synthetic plastic material 24 is associated with the reinforcing member 21 and has plug-forming portions 24a extending through the apertures in the reinforcing member 21. Connecting members, such as ribs 22, connect these two sets of reinforcing members and synthetic plastic layers, and the plugs 23a and 24a of the respective sets maintain thejuxtaposed reinforcing members 20, 21 out of contact with one another. The auxiliary flange portion 25 of the member 2 corresponds to the flange portion 14 in FIG. 7; it is secured adhesively to the flange member 19.

Of course, in all embodiments it will be appreciated that there will always be two of the flange members provided at the opposite axial ends of the hub.

Different types of synthetic plastic material are suitable for purposes of the present invention. The use of synthetic plastic materials, in conjunction with the respective reinforcing members, makes the construction of a reel utilizing my novel flange members both simple and inexpensive, and the resulting reel will be light in weight and will rotate smoothly when wire is to be found onto or unwound from it.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a reel for wire and analogous articles, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A reel for wire and analogous articles, comprising in combination, a hub; and a pair of flange members projecting radially from said hub in the region of the opposite ends of the latter, said flange members being of laminar construction and each including at least one profiled first layer of metallic reinforcing material provided with a plurality of apertures and a plurality of circumferentially distributed raised and depressed portions, and at least one second layer of synthetic plastic material in surface-to-surface contact with one side of said first layer and comprising synthetic plastic portions extending through said aperture to the other side of said first layer and embedding marginal portions of said first layer which surround said apertures.

2. A reel as defined in claim 1, wherein said first layers are plate-shaped.

3. A reel as defined in claim 1, wherein said first layers are disc-shaped.

4. A reel as defined in claim 1, wherein said first layers are of circumferentially complete annular outline.

5. A reel as defined in claim 1, wherein said apertures are provided in said raised portions-as well as in said depressed portions.

6. A reel as defined in claim 1, wherein said first layer extends radially inwardly and has an inner marginal portion locatedin said hub.

7. A reel as defined in claim I, wherein said flange members taper axially of said hub in radially outward direction.

8. A reel as defined in claim 1, said second layer further comprising a plurality of rib portions located at said other side of said first layer.

9. A reel as defined in claim 1, and further comprising connecting elements extending through said first layers of said flange members for connecting said flange members to one another.

10. A reel as defined in claim 9, said connecting elements being constructed and arranged for exerting tension on said flange members towards one another in axial direction of said hub.

11. A reel for wire and analogous articles, comprising in combination, a hub; and a pair of flange members projecting radially from said hub in the region of the opposite ends of the latter, said flange members being of laminar construction and each including a pair of apertured coextensive first layers of metallic reinforcing material spaced axially of said hub, and a pair of second layers of synthetic plastic material each in surface-to-surface contact with one side of one of said first layers and comprising synthetic plastic portions extending through the apertures of the respectively associated first layer to the other side of the same and embedding marginal portions of the associated first layer which surround said apertures.

12. A reel'as defined in claim 11. wherein the synthetic plastic portions of the respective second layers which extend through said apertures in the respective first layers, abut one another so as to space said first layers from one another.

13. A reel for wire and analogous articles, comprising in combination, a hub; a pair of flange members projecting radially from said hub in the region of the opposite ends of the latter, said flange members being of laminar construction and each including at least one first layer of metallic reinforcing material provided with a plurality of apertures, and at least one second layer of synthetic plastic material in surface-tosurface contact with one side of said first layer and comprising synthetic plastic portions extending through said apertures to the other side of said first layer and embedding marginal portions of said first layer which surround said apertures, the other sides of said first layers of the respective flange members facing towards one another; and a pair of auxiliary flange members each associated with one of said flange members and located at said other sides of the respective first layers.

14. A reel as defined in claim 13; and further comprising connecting means connecting the associated flange member and auxiliary flange member to one another.

IS. A reel as defined in claim 14, said connecting means comprising bonding means bonding each auxiliary flange member to said other side of the first layer of the respectively associated flange member. 

1. A reel for wire and analogous articles, comprising in combination, a hub; and a pair of flange members projecting radially from said hub in the region of the opposite ends of the latter, said flange members being of laminar construction and each including at least one profiled first layer of metallic reinforcing material provided with a plurality of apertures and a plurality of circumferentially distributed raised and depressed portions, and at least one second layer of synthetic plastic material in surface-to-surface contact with one side of said first layer and comprising synthetic plastic portions extending through said aperture to the other side of said first layer and embedding marginal portions of said first layer which surround said apertures.
 2. A reel as defined in claim 1, wherein said first layers are plate-shaped.
 3. A reel as defined in claim 1, wherein said first layers are disc-shaped.
 4. A reel as defined in claim 1, wherein said first layers are of circumferentially complete annular outline.
 5. A reel as defined in claim 1, wherein said apertures are provided in said raised portions as well as in said depressed portions.
 6. A reel as defined in claim 1, wherein said first layer extends radially inwardly and has an inner marginal portion located in said hub.
 7. A reel as defined in claim 1, wherein said flange members taper axially of said hub in radially outward direction.
 8. A reel as defined in claim 1, said second layer further comprising a plurality of rib portions located at said other side of said first layer.
 9. A reel as defined in claim 1, and further comprising connecting elements extending through said first layers of said flange members for connecting said flange members to one another.
 10. A reel as defined in claim 9, said connecting elements being constructed and arranged for exerting tension on said flange members towards one another in axial direction of said hub.
 11. A reel for wire and analogous articles, comprising in combination, a hub; and a pair of flange members projecting radially from said hub in the region of the opposite ends of the latter, said flange members being of laminar construction and each including a pair of apertured coextensive first layers of metallic reinforcing material spaced axially of said hub, and a pair of second layers of synthetic plastic material each in surface-to-surface contact with one side of one of said first layers and comprising synthetic plastic portions extending through the apertures of the respectively associated first layer to the other side of the same and embedding marginal portions of the associated first layer which surround said apertures.
 12. A reel as defined in claim 11, wherein the synthetic plastic portions of the respective second layers which extend through said apertures in the respective first layers, abut one another so as to space said first layers from one another.
 13. A reel for wire and analogous articles, comprising in combination, a hub; a pair of flange members projecting radially from said hub in the region of the opposite ends of the latter, said flange members being of laminar construction and each including at least one first layer of metallic reinforcing material provided with a plurality of apertures, and at least one second layer of synthetic plastic material in surface-to-surface contact with one side of said first layer and comprising synthetic plastic portions extending through said apertures to the other side of said first layer and embedding marginal portions of said first layer which surround said apertures, the other sides of said first layers of the respective flange members facing towards one another; and a pair of auxiliary flange members each associated with one of said flange members and located at said other sides of the respective first layers.
 14. A reel as defined in claim 13; and further comprising connecting means connecting the associated flange member and auxiliary flange member to one another.
 15. A reel as defined in claim 14, said connecting means comprising bonding means bonding each auxiliary flange member to said other side of the first layer of the respectively associated flange member. 